DAY 4 – Lincoln to Basin (101.8miles)

Bruce and I meet Josh, Matt and Ashley for breakfast at 8am and after a big feed and chat we all set off for the day together. From Lincoln there is some good mountain biking, but it's a hard day with some steep climbs over the first three continental divide crossings. Josh and Ashley are unfortunately off the back on the first climb. By the time I reach the pavement road into Helena early afternoon I’m tired and hungry and well in need of a break. Bruce, Matt and I head into town and spot a nice restaurant where we can eat outside and fettle with the bikes and kit. By chance we are just around the corner from a bike shop, so after eating I go over there to try and spend some money on new shorts. Despite my best efforts though I’m completely ignored by the staff for 20 minutes as they have idle chat with people not buying anything. Clearly they are too cool for me so I have to cut my losses a get moving.


Frustrated about the service at the bike shop, I settle into a good pace up Grizzly Gulch with an aim to get over the next pass and make Basin before 10pm so I can eat at a restaurant. I soon catch Matt and Bruce but dare not hang around with them as I’m not carrying any food for a night on the trail. My pace is fine until the rooty technical Lava Trail which is slow going, and I’m not sure about the navigation as distances aren’t matching with the route card. Eventually I top out and scream down the descent to make it to Basin in the fading light. It’s too slow going on descents in the dark so you gotta ride them in the light. My front wheel washes out on some soft sand as I tear along, and I smile to myself at leaving tell-tale Steve marks on the trail for Bruce and Matt to find. Sure enough they mention it later.

I make Basin at 21:30 and find the restaurant still serving food. I eat until I can hardly move, and then ride a short way to the B&B, which I’m surprised has no riders already staying there. At the restaurant I’m told a tall Australian left 20 minutes before me; he’s headed for Butte tonight. I’m surprised Alex is in front of me and assumed he was behind after I hadn’t seen him since day one.

I’m showered and in bed dozing off by 10:45 when Matt and Bruce rock up. I let them crash on the floor and they bang about politely, cooking up some food and sorting kit. Getting to Basin I’m guessing we got a break over many of the other racers today, although I’m sorry to lose Josh after a week riding together. I don’t expect to see him again.